Granted Patent B2

US 7,587,939 · App. 11/848,975 · Granted Sep 15, 2009

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A process for monitoring the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank of a vehicle that includes a fuel injector and a fuel level sensor, the process comprising:

searching for a refueling event;

establishing a base line fuel level utilizing the fuel level sensor when a refueling event is detected;

calculating fuel consumption as a function of the total time the fuel injector has been on since establishing the base line fuel level; and

calculating the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank as a function of fuel consumption and the base line fuel level.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of searching comprises monitoring for an increase in fuel while the vehicle is substantially stationary.

3. A process for monitoring the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank of a vehicle that includes a fuel level sensor, the process comprising:

determining if the vehicle is located on a gradient exceeding a minimum gradient threshold, the step of determining if the vehicle is located on a gradient comprising:

establishing fuel volume at a first time (FVt 1 );

calculating the fuel volume at a second subsequent time (FVt 2 ) utilizing data provided by the fuel level sensor; and

determining that the vehicle is located on a gradient if the absolute value of the difference between FVt 2 and FVt 1 exceeds a predetermined tilt volume threshold;

establishing that a refueling event is not detected if the vehicle is located on a gradient;

establishing a base line fuel level utilizing the fuel level sensor when a refueling event is detected;

tracking fuel consumption; and

calculating the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank as a function of fuel consumption and the base line fuel level.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle includes an orientation sensor, and wherein the step of determining if the vehicle is located on a gradient comprises sensing the spatial orientation of the vehicle utilizing the orientation sensor.

5. A process according to claim 3 wherein the second time occurs between approximately 10 seconds and 30 seconds after the first time.

6. A process according to claim 3 wherein the tilt volume threshold is approximately 2 to 4 liters.

7. A process according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle includes a fuel injector, and wherein step of establishing fuel volume at a first time comprises calculating fuel volume at a first time as a function of the base line fuel level and the total time the fuel injector has been on since establishing the base line fuel level.

8. A process according to claim 3 wherein the step of searching comprises:

monitoring for an increase in fuel utilizing the fuel level sensor; and

concluding that a refueling event has occurred if there is an increase in fuel.

9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the step of monitoring is continually performed while the vehicle is substantially stationary.

10. A process according to claim 8 wherein the step of monitoring for an increase in fuel occurs approximately 60 to 180 seconds after the second subsequent time.

11. A process according to claim 3 wherein the step of searching comprises:

monitoring for an increase in fuel utilizing the fuel level sensor; and

concluding that a refueling event has occurred when the increase in fuel exceeds a minimum volume threshold.

12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the minimum volume threshold is approximately 2 to 4 liters.

13. A process for monitoring the amount of fuel remaining in a vehicle's storage tank, the vehicle including a fuel level sensor, the process comprising:

determining if the vehicle is located on a gradient exceeding a minimal threshold;

searching for a refueling event when the vehicle is not located on a gradient;

establishing a base line fuel level utilizing data provided by the fuel level sensor when a refueling event is detected;

tracking the amount of fuel consumed; and

calculating the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank as a function of the base line fuel level and the fuel consumed since last-establishing the base line fuel level.

14. A process according to claim 13 wherein the step of searching comprises monitoring for an increase in fuel while the vehicle is substantially stationary.

15. A process according to claim 13 wherein the step of determining comprises:

establishing fuel volume at a first time (FVt 1 ) as a function of the base line fuel level and the fuel consumed since last-establishing the base line fuel level;

measuring the fuel level at a second time utilizing the fuel level sensor, the second time occurring after the first time;

converting the fuel level measured at the second time to a fuel volume (FVt 2 ); and

determining that the vehicle is located on a gradient if the absolute value of the difference between FVt 2 and FVt 1 exceeds a predetermined tilt volume threshold.

16. A process according to claim 15 wherein the step of searching comprises:

monitoring for an increase in fuel utilizing the fuel level sensor; and

concluding that a refueling event has occurred if there is an increase in fuel.

17. A fuel monitoring system for use in conjunction with including a storage tank, the fuel monitoring system comprising:

a fuel injector;

a fuel level sensor configured to measure the fuel level of the fuel held within the storage tank; and

a processor coupled to the fuel level sensor and to the fuel injector, the processor configured to:

search for a refueling event;

establish a base line fuel level utilizing the fuel level sensor when a refueling event is detected;

track fuel consumption by calculating fuel consumption as a function of the base line fuel level and the total time the fuel injector has been on since last establishing the base line fuel level; and

calculate the amount of fuel remaining within the storage tank as a function of fuel consumption and the base line fuel level.

Assignments (12)